Method and apparatus for producing stereoscopic ice of transparent sphere or the like

ABSTRACT

The process and equipment, according to this invention, for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes are capable of making clear ice balls and block ice of other shapes in the mold quickly, efficiently, and with effective energy utilization. This process is characterized in the steps of:  
     a) preparing a mold for making ice balls and block ice of other shapes, which comprises an upper mold ( 24   a ) made of an insulating material and provided with a vertical injection hole ( 23 ) drilled therein and a water-injection nozzle ( 22 ) fitted in the hole; and a lower mold ( 24   b ) made of a water-freezing block ( 26 ) having coolant pipe ( 25 ) embedded therein;  
     b) preparing for a domed lid ( 21   a ) or the lid of a different shape made of an insulating sheet, said lid ( 21   a ) having a shape that fits in with the surface shaped for the upper mold ( 24   a ) and being provided with a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole ( 23 ); and a shaped hemispherical cup ( 21   b ) of the same insulating sheet, which similarly fits in with the shaped surface of the lower mold ( 24   b );  
     c) assembling both halves of the mold ( 24 ) after the lid ( 21   a ) and the cup ( 21   b ) have been attached tightly to each other and placed in the mold;  
     d) then, keeping the liquid to be frozen cooled at a predetermined temperature and spraying the liquid intermittently in the direction of the water-freezing block ( 26 ) that has been cooled to a predetermined freezing temperature;  
     e) repeating the spraying operation to freeze the sprayed liquid in the container ( 21 ), layer by layer, until clear ice balls ( 20 ) or block ice of other shapes are formed; and  
     f) disassembling the halves of the mold under the ice-releasing effect, which the ice container ( 21 ) has on the ice-making mold ( 24 ), and immediately taking out the shaped ice balls ( 20 ) or the block ice of a different shape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field to Which this Invention Belongs

[0002] This invention relates to the process and equipment for manufacturing clear ice balls of the type frozen in the mold. These ice balls according to this invention are used for drinks to cool spirits and alcoholic beverages and are equivalent to those ice balls that are shaped by the bartender from clear ice by cutting it with artisan skill, or are shaped into balls with the grinder from block ice, put in a glass, and served to the customer who has ordered a glass of alcoholic beverage. The size of ice balls ranges from too big one to put in the mouth to the balls as small as a piece of candy. These ice balls belong to a different field in use and size from the ice for shot blast or from small ice for instant cooling use, but are manufactured in the form. And as such, the process and equipment of this invention should also be applied to other types of shaped ice capable of being released from the mold.

[0003] 2. Conventional Art

[0004] There have been various proposals on the manufacture of ice balls of the type frozen in the mold.

[0005] For example, Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 1980-158461 described a water-freezing method, such as shown in FIG. 11. Water is poured in a bag container 1 made of a synthetic resin having elasticity even at a low temperature. This container 1 is set stably in a hemispherical container 2 made of a metallic material, such as aluminum, having good heat conductivity. The container 1 is left to cool until water is frozen into ice.

[0006] Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 1984-49856 described a spherical container, such as shown in FIG. 12, comprising upper and lower hemispheres, which are tightly sealed by screws 3 that makes both halves engaged and tightened up with each other at the connecting portion. On top of the upper hemisphere is a hook-like pipe 5 for hanging the spherical container 4. This pipe 5 is fitted vertically to the container 4, and pure water 6 can be poured into the container 4 through the pipe 5.

[0007] This container 4 is put inside a freezing tank with a setting at a freezing temperature near 0 degrees C. It is insisted that when the container 4 is swung in the freezing tank, water freezes without clouded core portion of the ice ball. The ice ball thus frozen can be taken out by separating the upper and lower halves.

[0008] Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 1992-15069 proposed a method of manufacturing golf balls of ice, which smash up on impact. As shown in FIG. 13a, a hemispherical lid 7 looks like an upper half of a hollow ball somewhat larger than a golf ball, obtained when the ball has been cut horizontally into halves. A wide ring 8 has a larger circumference than the container halves, is an integral part of the container 9 or the lower half of the ball, and is provided around the circular cross section. Both container halves 7 and 9 fit in with each other, as shown in FIG. 13b, and the upper lid 7 does not fall easily even when the combined container is turned upside down.

[0009] If these container halves 7 and 9 are fitted in water, then water 10 is filled inside the container as shown in FIG. 13b, and when the container is taken from underwater, no water runs out of the container.

[0010] It is insisted, therefore, that ice balls are obtained when this container with water inside is frozen.

[0011] However, in the case of FIG. 11, it is contemplated that the cold temperature penetrates the water to be frozen in the order of A, B, and C, wherein A is a portion in contact with the metallic hemispherical container 2; B is a portion in contact with atmosphere through the mouth of the bag container 1; and C is the portions where the bag container 1 having insulating action exists between water and the freezing atmosphere. In that case, the upper and lower portions freeze first, and the middle portion, especially the core portion, is the last to be frozen, thus resulting in typical unclear ice having clouded core. This method would never create such ice as intended by this invention.

[0012] In the case of FIG. 12, too, such ice as intended by this invention would never be manufactured because coldness penetrates water simultaneously over the entire surface of the spherical container. However the container is swung, the core portion would become clouded in the same way as in the case of FIG. 11.

[0013] Likewise in the case of FIG. 13, the ball container is left to freeze simultaneously over the entire surface, starting from the surface and ending at the core portion. Ice thus obtained is at the lowest level in its quality, and has no other choice but giving clouded core portion.

[0014] In contrast to the above conventional art, a proposal from Japanese patent publication No. 1994-89970 makes it possible to obtain clear ice. This method is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The ice-making equipment shown in FIG. 14 comprises a plural number of ice-making cups 11, 11, a pair of covers 12, 12 for each ice-making cup, a substrate, the first nozzle 14, a coolant pipe 15, and the second nozzles 16, 16.

[0015] The ice-making cup 11 is formed into a hemispherical shape of a certain diameter, from a metal plate, such as aluminum or stainless steel. The cups are arranged in lines and rows, in a state in which cups are turned bottom up, with the opening facing downward. These cups are fitted at given positions by connecting them with, for example, substrates 13 of the same material.

[0016] A coolant pipe 15 is tied around the bottom or the head portion of the ice-making cup 15, as shown in FIG. 14.

[0017] In the meantime, the covers 12 are made of a metal plate of the same material as used for the ice-making cup 11, or made of a synthetic resin plate, and are formed into a pair of quarters of the sphere with the same diameter as the ice-making cup 11, as obtained by equally dividing a hemisphere similar to the ice-making cup 11. The two quarters in a pair are fitted to the downside of the substrates 13 and are supported swingably through hinges 17 at positions corresponding to the ice-making cup 11. In this case, the two covers 12 are fitted to the substrates 13 in such a relationship that the two covers are combined together to form a hemisphere and that the covers 12 and the cup 11 form a sphere.

[0018] Each hinge 17 is an attachment to the respective cover 12 and has the following structure: Each of distorted tetragonal tabs has a pinhole bored through the tab and is protruded like an ear from the central part of each lateral periphery of the quarter of the sphere. Both tabs are fitted to the substrate 13 by engaging them with the fittings suspended from the substrate 13 at corresponding positions and inserting a pin through each pinhole. In their closed state, the attached pair of covers 12, 12 faces each other and comes in contact with each other right under the ice-making cup 11. Both covers 12, 12 are movable in the opposite directions to leave each other, and in their open state, the lower hemisphere breaks to make the mouth wide open.

[0019] The covers 12, 12 are provided with an opening 18 having a certain diameter at the central, lowest part of vertical periphery of each quarter of the sphere. Each quarter has a half circle for water injection so that in the closed state, both quarters form a circular opening 18 at the bottom.

[0020] The hinges 17 of the covers 12, 12 are provided each with a spring 19, such as a coil spring, which acts a force on each cover to keep both covers 12, 12 closed during the ice-making operation.

[0021] The process of ice-making operation is shown in FIGS. 15a to 15 d. The ice-making cup 11 is cooled to a low temperature by the coolant pipe 15. Meanwhile, raw water for ice making use is spurted from the 1st nozzle 14 and is shot into the ice-making cup 11 through the opening 8 (FIG. 15a). The water to be iced spreads over the inner surface of the ice-making cup 11 and the covers 12, 12. Then water drips from the opening 18 and is collected into a water tank. After the water temperature has decreased, water is again sent to the water pump, and is spurted from the 1st nozzle 14 into the ice-making cup 11.

[0022] In this way, an ice layer is formed first on the inner surface of the ice-making cup 11, and later on the inner surfaces of the covers 12, 12. Therefore, the ice layer gets thick first on the upper part of the ice-making cup 11. Then, ice gradually becomes spherical over time (FIG. 15b).

[0023] As the block of ice grows, the lower part comes close to the opening 18. At a point of time when ice block has grown into an almost round ice ball, the detector detects the shape, and sends a signal to the water pump to stop operation and to flow hot gas through the coolant pipe 15 so as to raise the temperature of the ice-making cup 11. At the same time, water at normal temperature is ejected from the 2nd nozzles 16, 16 onto the covers 12, 12 (FIG. 15c).

[0024] Therefore, the ice ball has before been adfreezed to the ice-making cup 11 and the covers 12, 12. Now, the ice ball is about to leave the cup and the covers because the firmly fixed ball surface begins to dissolve.

[0025] As soon as the ball surface leaves the inner surfaces of the cup and the covers, the self-weight of the ice ball is automatically dispersed on the pair of covers 12, 12. As this self-weight overcomes the force of the spring 19, the ice ball begins to drop downward. With the covers 12, 12 forced to open wide, the ice ball completely breaks away from the ice-making cup 11 and the covers 12, 12, and drops into an ice-receiving tank (not shown) (FIG. 15d).

[0026] In this system, raw water for ice making is not sealed inside a mold from the beginning, but is ejected therein serially to form thin laminates of ice. Like icicles, this ice ball can be clear to the core.

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0027] The proposal of Japanese patent publication No. 1994-89970 makes sure of clear ice ball manufacture, but it has the following drawbacks:

[0028] (1) After raw water is ejected, water is collected except for the iced portion, and is re-ejected. In other words, water is recycled and reused. Because of this recycling, the opening 18 is clogged up with ice before round ice is completed. (Since recycled water tends to have a temperature at which water is frozen easily, the opening 18 begins freezing and clogging.) Eventually, it seems that solid block of ice fails to complete.

[0029] (2) It is reported that freezing takes place not only in the ice-making cup 11 equipped with the coolant pipe 15, but also on the covers 12, 12. It means that cooling is necessary for the space under substrates 13 where there are the covers 12, 12 and therefore that strong freezing equipment is required for this purpose. As regards the ice-making cups 11, the coolant pipe 15 is inefficient because it is tied around the head portion of the cup 11, and a major part of the pipe 15 is exposed to air. Enormous energy is thus required to cool both of the ice-making cup 11 and ambient air surrounding the covers 12, 12.

[0030] (3) This enormous energy is not utilized efficiently. It is rather wasted because the ice-making process requires discontinued operation, energy loss, and repeated release of energy. For example, after ice balls are formed within the cup 11 and the covers 12, 12, hot gas is passed through the coolant pipe 15. In addition, water of normal temperature is ejected onto the covers 12, 12 from the nozzles 16. Then, when ice-making process resumes, the coolant pipe 15 and the covers 12, 12 have to be cooled again. This is inefficient utilization of heat.

[0031] This invention has been made to solve the above-described drawbacks of conventional art. The object of this invention is to provide a new means of manufacturing clear ice balls by forming laminates of ice inside the mold so as to ensure that many, clear ice balls can be mass-produced reliably and that input energy can be utilized efficiently. In addition, ice of other shapes can be obtained by changing the shape of the ice-making cup and the covers.

MEANS OF SOLVING THE PROBLEMS

[0032] The means of achieving the above-described object comprises a process for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, which process is characterized by the steps of:

[0033] a) preparing a mold for making ice balls and block ice of other shapes, which comprises an upper mold made of an insulating material and provided with a vertical injection hole drilled therein and a water-jet nozzle fitted in the hole; and a lower mold made of a water-freezing block having coolant pipe embedded therein;

[0034] b) preparing for a shaped lid of a hemispherical or different shape made of an insulating sheet, said lid having a shape corresponding to the surface shaped for the upper mold and being provided with a bottom flange and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole; and a shaped cup of the same insulating sheet, which similarly corresponds to the shaped surface of the lower mold and is provided with a top flange;

[0035] c) assembling both halves of the mold after the domed lid (or the cover having plural lids) and the cup (or the tray having plural cups) have been attached tightly to each other and placed in the mold;

[0036] d) then, keeping the liquid to be frozen cooled at a predetermined temperature and spraying the liquid intermittently in the direction of the water-freezing block that has been cooled to a predetermined freezing temperature;

[0037] e) repeating the spraying operation to freeze the sprayed liquid in the tray, layer by layer, until clear ice balls or block ice of other shapes are formed; and

[0038] f) disassembling the halves of the mold under the ice-releasing effect, which the ice container has on the ice-making mold, and immediately taking out the shaped ice balls or the block ice of a different shape.

[0039] The equipment for manufacturing clear ice balls and the block ice of other shapes comprises:

[0040] a mold for molding ice balls and block ice of other shapes, which comprises an upper mold made of an insulating material having a vertical injection hole drilled therein and a water-jet nozzle fitted in the hole and connected to an intermittent injection mechanism; and a lower mold made of a water-freezing block having coolant pipe embedded therein; and

[0041] spherical containers or the containers shaped otherwise, which comprise a domed lid or the lid of a different shape made of an insulating sheet, said lid having a shape corresponding to the surface shaped for the upper mold and being provided with a bottom flange and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole; and a shaped cup of the same insulating sheet, which similarly corresponds to the shaped surface of the lower mold and is provided with a top flange.

ACTION

[0042] When water is injected on the cooled water-freezing block, the injected water is soon frozen after a very short period of retention because the amount is small.

[0043] This fast freezing ability is convenient when juice and other solutions are to be frozen, because juice is frozen before separation will take place.

[0044] Ice on the bottom of the mold receives coldness from the water-freezing block, and ice itself becomes an ice-cold source, which freezes up at once the intermittently injected water sprayed on the frozen water. Like icicle formation, thin, clear laminated ice is obtained by this most reliable, most efficient ice-making method. The upper part of the mold is covered with an insulating material so as to confine coldness of the lower part. This mechanism is energy saving and economic because the entire space to be filled with ice can be cooled by means of only the water-freezing block.

[0045] The water-freezing block can be a big one if the block is designed to give a thick configuration. When another round of freezing operation starts, a thick freezing block is advantageous because the previously produced ice does not affect the thick block even if coldness is drawn therefrom, and so the subsequent ice can be made quickly.

[0046] An insulating sheet (a container) stands between the inner surface of the mold and ice to prevent ice from coming in contact with the water-freezing block. Because this insulating sheet serves as a mold-release agent, it is easy to release ice from the mold and to take ice out of the mold (with no requirement for heating). In addition, the ice products are packaged in the container. Since the packages are divided into upper and lower halves, ice balls can be conveniently taken out of the container.

MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0047] This invention is further described in the case of ice balls, now referring to FIGS. 1 to 8.

[0048]FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of the equipment according to this invention for making a clear ice ball, in the state in which ice has been completed. The ice ball 20 is packed in the container 21, which in turn is shut in the mold 24 for making ice balls. This mold 24 comprises an upper mold 24 a and a lower mold 24 b. The former is made of a heat-insulating material and is provided with an injection nozzle 22 that is connected to an intermittent injection mechanism; the latter is the water-freezing block 26, in which the coolant pipe 25 is embedded (In FIG. 1, the pipe is located right under the mold).

[0049] In FIG. 1, a rubber gasket layer 27 is disposed preferably on the underside of the upper mold 24 a, and is used for the sake of completeness to put the container exactly between both halves of the mold 24, while holding tight the flanges of the container 21.

[0050] A heat-insulating layer 28 serves to prevent coldness from escaping through the surfaces of the water-freezing block 26. Naturally, this layer should be disposed not only on the bottom of the mold 24, but also on the sides.

[0051] Because of this heat-insulating layer 28, the coldness generated by the water-freezing block 26 is entirely directed toward the space for the water to be frozen inside the mold 24.

[0052] The water-freezing block 26 has round holes 29 dug in the lower mold, and the upper mold 24 a that covers the water-freezing block 26 is provided with domes 31, which correspond in shape to respective round holes 29.

[0053]FIG. 2 shows a water-freezing block 26 used to manufacture many ice balls.

[0054] As seen, many round holes 29 are disposed in a lattice pattern on a large-size, water-freezing block 26′. Right under the round holes 29 run the rows of grooves for embedding the coolant pipes 24.

[0055]FIG. 3 shows one of the above-described spherical containers 21.

[0056] The domed lid 21 a and the hemispherical cup 21 b are made of an insulating sheet such as styrol, and are provided respectively with the bottom flange 32 and the top flange 33. A vertical cylinder 23 a is disposed on top of the dome and is fitted into the vertical injection hole 23 to allow for the passage of injected water.

[0057]FIGS. 4 and 5 show a cover 21 a′ and a tray 21 b′ of an integral type having many domed lids and cups, respectively, for use with the large-size, water-freezing block 26′.

[0058]FIG. 4 shows a cover 21 a′ of the integral type prepared by the vacuum molding; FIG. 5 shows a tray 21 b′ of the integral type having hemispherical cups shaped therein.

[0059]FIG. 6 shows an intermittent injection mechanism 35, which is connected to the above-described water injection nozzle 22.

[0060] In FIG. 6, raw water tank 36 sends water into circulating water pipe 37. On the way, water passes through filter 38, constant pressure pump 39, the suction adjusting pressure valve of this pump 39, and air supply valve 40, respectively, for the filtration of suctioned water, the setting of pressure inside the pipe 27, and the mixing of air into water (so water may have a mild taste). Circulation of raw water is preferred to prevent liquid mixtures from being separated.

[0061] Branching pipes 41 are disposed on this side of the valve 40, and are connected to each injection nozzle 22. A tube pump 42 is disposed halfway on each branching pipe 41 to supply water in an intermittently fixed amount.

[0062] In the case of the mass production type, the above-described tube pumps 42 comprise a roller that depresses rows of tubes (not shown).

[0063] However, under the circumstances in which the upper mold 24 a is separated from the lower mold 24 b, as shown in FIG. 7, the hemispherical cup 21 b and the domed lid 21 a are fitted tightly into the round hole 29 and the dome 31, respectively.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 8, the upper mold 24 a is then assembled with the lower mold 24 b. The domed lid 21 a and the hemispherical cup 21 b are pressed to each other as the flange 32 is put on top of the flange 33. Thus, joint seal is completed for the space inside the spherical container 21.

[0065] The water-freezing block 26 has been fully cooled by means of the coolant pipe 25 to a temperature of −20 degrees C. that is suitable for clear ice. As shown in FIG. 9, raw water 34 is then intermittently injected from the injection nozzle 22. (The end of the nozzle 22 is disposed at a certain height above the freezing level so as to prevent the nozzle from being clogged due to the contact with the top of frozen ice.)

[0066] The intermittently injected raw water 34 is almost instantaneously frozen and turns into ice 34′ of a single crystal. Backed up by the water-freezing block 26, ice itself serves as a strong cold source. When subsequent water is intermittently injected, the water equally turns into ice of a single crystal, which are piled on, one layer after another.

[0067] As calculated previously, a certain level of freezing operation is measured out, and the injection of raw water 34 is discontinued at that point.

[0068] Then, the upper mold 24 a is withdrawn, as shown in FIG. 10. (Because of the existence of the domed lid 21 a, there is no contact between the upper mold 24 a and ice 20. Thus, the withdrawal is quickly carried out.)

[0069] Similarly, the ice ball 20 can be easily taken out of the lower mold 24 b because ice is packed in the spherical container 21.

[0070] The ice ball 20 packed in the spherical container 21 is shipped as a commercial product merely by cutting or bending the cylinder 23 a. In use, it is only necessary to separate between the flange 32 and the flange 33 to take out the ice ball 20 from the spherical container 21. This ice ball package is advantageous in its quite easy handling.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0071] This invention in the above-described configuration has the following effects.

[0072] (1) Ice can be mass-produced efficiently due to instantaneous freezing of injected water and easy takeout of ice right after water has been frozen.

[0073] (2) In the conventional art, input energy for cooling turned out to be a hindrance when ice was released from the mold. Additional heating energy had to be required for the release of ice, and then energy became necessary for freezing water again. In this invention there is no such wasteful utilization of energy. The cooling energy can be utilized effectively for the subsequent rounds of freezing operation. This ice-making method is ideal from the energy efficiency point of view.

[0074] (3) The spherical containers of this invention are convenient for combined use as a molding material and as a packaging material. In addition, these containers make it unnecessary to heat and melt ice surface for the release from the ice-making cup, as found necessary in conventional art. These containers are ultimately rational as they can be used also as the release material. They are also convenient for taking out ice balls because the spherical containers can be divided into two halves.

[0075] (4) Ice according to this invention is not limited to the spherical shape. Clear ice of other desired shapes, such as ice cubes, is obtained if the mold is replaced with another one for different shaped ice, provided that the ice containers can be separated into upper and lower halves.

[0076] (5) It is possible to use various solutions, instead of fresh water, as the raw water. If raw water is a liquid or something else to qualify spirits with, then the spirits with shaped ice require no additional water. Furthermore, such drinks as coffee, tea, and juice can be turned into shaped ice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077]FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the equipment of this invention in the state in which an ice ball has been completed.

[0078]FIGS. 2a and 2 b are a plan view and a front view of the water-freezing block in the equipment of this invention.

[0079]FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a spherical container used in the equipment of this invention.

[0080]FIGS. 4a and 4 b are a plan view and a front view of the cover used with the tray for mass production of ice balls according to this invention.

[0081]FIGS. 5a and 5 b are a plan view and a front view of the tray for mass production of ice balls according to this invention.

[0082]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the mechanism for intermittent injection of raw water, used in the equipment of this invention.

[0083]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the equipment of this invention in the state in which the mold halves have been separated.

[0084]FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the equipment of this invention in the state in which all parts have been assembled.

[0085]FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing water injected inside the mold.

[0086]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the equipment of this invention in the state right after an ice ball has been completed and the upper mold has been removed.

[0087]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a means of manufacturing an ice ball of the conventional art.

[0088]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing another means of manufacturing an ice ball of the conventional art.

[0089]FIGS. 13a and 13 b are explanatory diagrams showing still another means of manufacturing an ice ball of the conventional art.

[0090]FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional means of manufacturing laminates of clear ice in a mold.

[0091]FIGS. 15a to 15 d are explanatory diagrams showing the procedure of manufacturing an ice ball by using the means of FIG. 14.

EXPLANATION OF CODES

[0092] Bag container

[0093] Hemispherical container

[0094]3; Screw

[0095]4; Spherical container

[0096]5; Hook-like pipe

[0097]6; Pure water

[0098]7; Container

[0099]8; Ring

[0100]9; Hemispherical lid

[0101]10; Water

[0102]11; Ice-making cup

[0103]12; Cover

[0104]13; Substrate

[0105]14; First nozzle

[0106]15; Coolant pipe

[0107]16; Second nozzle

[0108]17; Hinge

[0109]18; Opening

[0110]19; Spring

[0111]20; Ice ball

[0112]21; Spherical container

[0113]21 a; Domed lid

[0114]21 b; Hemispherical cup

[0115]22; Injection nozzle

[0116]23; vertical injection hole

[0117]23 a; Cylinder

[0118]24; Ice ball mold

[0119]24 a; Upper mold

[0120]24 b; Lower mold

[0121]25; coolant pipe

[0122]26; water-freezing block

[0123]26′; large-size, water-freezing block

[0124]27; Rubber gasket layer

[0125]28; Heat-insulating layer

[0126]29; Round hole

[0127]30; Groove for embedding coolant pipe

[0128]31; Dome

[0129]32; Bottom flange

[0130]33; Top flange

[0131]34; Raw water

[0132]34′; Frozen ice

[0133]35; Water injection mechanism

[0134]36; Raw water tank

[0135]37; Water-circulating pipe

[0136]38; Filter

[0137]39; Constant pressure pump

[0138]40; Air supply valve

[0139]41; Branching pipe

[0140]42; Tube pump 

1. A process for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, which process is characterized by the steps of: a) preparing a mold for making ice balls and block ice of other shapes, which comprises an upper mold made of an insulating material and provided with a vertical injection hole drilled therein and a water-jet nozzle fitted in the hole; and a lower mold made of a water-freezing block having coolant pipe embedded therein; b) preparing for a domed lid or the lid of a different shape made of an insulating sheet, said lid having a shape that fits in with the surface shaped for the upper mold and being provided with a bottom flange and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole; and a shaped hemispherical cup of the same insulating sheet, which similarly fits in with the shaped surface of the lower mold and is provided with a top flange; c) assembling both halves of the mold after the lid and the cup have been attached tightly to each other and placed in the mold; d) then, keeping the liquid to be frozen cooled at a predetermined temperature and spraying the liquid intermittently in the direction of the water-freezing block that has been cooled to a predetermined freezing temperature; e) repeating the spraying operation to freeze the sprayed liquid in the container, layer by layer, until clear ice balls or block ice of other shapes are formed; and f) disassembling the halves of the mold under the ice-releasing effect, which the ice container has on the ice-making mold, and immediately taking out the shaped ice balls or the block ice of a different shape.
 2. The process for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 1, wherein the container of spherical and other shapes is of the type divided into upper and lower halves and comprises a domed lid or the lid of a different shape that tightly fits in with the surface shaped for the upper mold and being provided with a bottom flange and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole; and a hemispherical cup or a differently shaped cup that similarly fit in with the shaped surface of the lower mold and is provided with a top flange.
 3. The process for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 1, wherein the container of spherical and other shapes is of the vertically divided into right and left halves, and is provided with reinforcing flanges and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole, with said container being put in tight contact with the hemispherical or other surfaces of the upper and lower mold halves and said right and left container halves being attached to each other by a pair of upper and lower uniting rings having a round container seat.
 4. The process for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the spherical container is made of a resinous sheet material, such as styrol.
 5. The process for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 2 and 3, wherein the spherical container is made of a hard, conductive metal material, such as aluminum.
 6. Equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, which comprises: a mold for making ice balls and block ice of other shapes, which comprises an upper mold made of an insulating material having a vertical injection hole drilled therein and a water-jet nozzle fitted in the hole and connected to an intermittent injection mechanism; and a lower mold made of a water-freezing block having coolant pipe embedded therein; and spherical containers or containers shaped otherwise, each container comprising a domed lid or the lid of a different shape made of an insulating sheet, said lid having a shape corresponding to the surface shaped for the upper mold and being provided with a bottom flange and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole; and a shaped cup of the same insulating sheet, which similarly corresponds to the shaped surface of the lower mold and is provided with a top flange.
 7. The equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 6, wherein the container of spherical and other shapes is of the type divided into upper and lower halves and comprises a domed lid or the lid of a different shape that tightly fits in with the surface shaped for the upper mold and being provided with a bottom flange and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole; and a hemispherical cup or a differently shaped cup that similarly fit in with the shaped surface of the lower mold and is provided with a top flange.
 8. The equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 6, wherein the container of spherical and other shapes is of the vertically divided into right and left halves, and is provided with reinforcing flanges and a cylinder for being fitted into the vertical injection hole, with said container being put in tight contact with the hemispherical or other surfaces of the upper and lower mold halves and said right and left container halves being attached to each other by a pair of upper and lower uniting rings having a round container seat.
 9. The equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 7 and 8, wherein the spherical container is made of a resinous sheet material, such as styrol.
 10. The equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claim 7 and 8, wherein the spherical container is made of a hard, conductive metal material, such as aluminum.
 11. The equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claims 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, wherein the intermittent injection mechanism takes pressurized water out of circulation pipe by way of tube pumps.
 12. The equipment for manufacturing clear, solid ice of spherical and other shapes, according to claims 11, wherein a pushing mechanism used for the tube pumps of this invention stands face to face with an arc surface of a pump mount for accommodating the tube pumps; wherein a rotating body of this pushing mechanism comprises a given number of one-point pressure rollers disposed around a shaft but not in contact with the circumference thereof, said shaft extending between two rotatable brackets and supporting one-point pressure rollers at the roller shafts; wherein tubes are disposed between the pump mount and the rotating body, with the tube upstream being fixed, and the downstream unfixed; and wherein a thin foil material having high durability, flexibility, and the slidability against rollers is disposed between the tubes and the rotating body, with the upstream fixed, and the downstream unfixed. 